Away to Earthpeace!
Earthpeaceassemblies 🌍
The Body of Humanity, Breathing as One
From 8.8.2026 to 8.8.2033, humanity rehearses a new global ritual of shared stillness: the Earthpeaceassemblies.
Eight years of synchronized days that prepare the world for the Earthpeacesummit, the Global Earthpeaceassembly and the first Earthpeacehour on 8 AM CET, 8.8.2033 that touches everyone. 💫
The First Earthpeaceassembly
A Small Beginning with a Global Horizon
On 8 August 2026, the First Earthpeaceassembly marked the public relaunch of the Earthpeace initiative and the beginning of a new phase in its development.
That day also launched the 88-Day Social Media Campaign for the Earthpeacehour: an effort to explore the vision through questions, reflections and invitations shared with a growing international audience.
The 0.2 Percent Circle was created on the same day. Its name expressed a deliberately cautious working estimate of the Earthpeacehour’s likelihood of success at that early stage—not a scientific prediction, but an honest acknowledgement of how much still had to be achieved. Every supportive contribution, new follower, conversation and committed participant was understood as a way of strengthening that possibility.
The First Earthpeaceassembly remained modest in size, supported by a small number of encouraging contributions. Its significance lay not in how many people had already joined, but in the decision to begin.
In its aftermath, the Earthpeace Association was established to give the initiative a community-led organisational foundation. It currently brings together seven optimistic and purpose-driven members who share one long-term ambition: to help prepare, promote and ultimately realise the global Earthpeacehour.
Seven people cannot accomplish this alone—but seven people can begin inviting the eighth, the eightieth and, one day, perhaps the eight billionth.
The Second Earthpeaceassembly
The First German Earthpeaceday
11,111 People at the Beginning of a Global Earthpeace Movement
Sunday, 8 August 2027 · Germany · Proposed venue to be confirmed
Arrival → Listening → Encounter → Questioning → Imagination → Connection → Silence → Beginning
The central question
Can 11,111 people begin something that the world may one day continue?
The First German Earthpeaceday is envisioned as the setting for the Second Earthpeaceassembly: a gathering intended to begin a credible global Earthpeace movement from Germany.
Its protected heart is the German Earthpeacehour from exactly 20:00 to 21:00. People with different convictions would not be asked to agree on everything. They would be invited to place the protection of life above their differences for one shared hour.
The long-term horizon is the global Earthpeacehour on 8 August 2033. The movement itself can begin much earlier—wherever people listen differently, de-escalate a conflict or choose to protect life.
All named personalities, artists and organisations are prospective invitees only. No participation has been confirmed.
Full programme
Time
Programme
08:30
Doors open; accessibility assistance, quiet spaces and Earthpeace information areas
09:30–09:45
Byklang – “The First Sound”, accompanied by a German youth choir
09:45–10:00
Opening words by Matthias Wille Janssen and a youth representative
10:00–11:30
Earthpeacesatsang – “The Courage to Begin”, prospectively guided by Anselm Grün
11:30–11:45
The Path of the First Step – a reflective transition
11:45–12:30
Earthpeacemeditation – “From Reaction to Response”, prospectively guided by Dr Ulrich Ott
12:30–13:45
The Table of 11,111 – community meal, exhibitions and encounters
13:45–15:45
Earthpeacedialogue – “Can One Gathering Begin a Global Earthpeace Movement?”
15:45–16:00
Reflection interval and stage transformation
16:00–17:30
Earthpeacetheatre – “The First Light”
17:30–18:10
Voices That Begin – personal contributions from the dialogue participants
18:10–18:40
Earthpeace Across Germany – regional connections
18:40–19:10
The Eight Founding Invitations
19:10–20:00
The Movement Begins Here – 11,111 personal first steps
20:00–21:00
The German Earthpeacehour – 60 Minutes of Shared Silence
21:00–22:23
Earthpeaceconcert – “Songs for a New Beginning”
22:23–22:28
Closing words by Matthias Wille Janssen
22:30
End of the event
1. Earthpeacesatsang
The Courage to Begin
10:00–11:30
A first invitation could be extended to German Benedictine monk and spiritual author Anselm Grün.
The Earthpeacesatsang would be non-denominational and open to people of every faith, philosophy and worldview—and to those who follow none.
Proposed sequence
- 10:00–10:10: Welcome: “Every Beginning Requires Courage”
- 10:10–10:22: Accessible breathing and grounding exercise
- 10:22–10:42: Reflection: “Peace Begins Before We Are Certain”
- 10:42–11:00: Reflection: “How Fear Can Be Heard Without Allowing It to Lead”
- 11:00–11:15: Individual reflection: “Which first step have I postponed?”
- 11:15–11:25: Conversation with a youth representative: “What Must Begin in Our Lifetime?”
- 11:25–11:29: Questions from the audience
- 11:29–11:30: One shared minute of silence
Participation in every exercise remains voluntary.
2. The Path of the First Step
11:30–11:45
Individual instruments sound from different parts of the venue while short sentences appear on the screens:
- “Every movement begins before it becomes visible.”
- “You do not have to be fearless to begin.”
- “Peace does not require sameness.”
- “What is one conflict you can influence?”
Guests may remain seated, move quietly, drink water or visit the assistance and quiet areas.
3. Earthpeacemeditation
From Reaction to Response
11:45–12:30
A prospective guide would be German psychologist and meditation researcher Dr Ulrich Ott.
Meditation journey
- 11:45–11:50: Orientation in the venue with eyes open
- 11:50–11:56: Awareness of breath and physical contact with the chair or ground
- 11:56–12:03: Recognising tension before reacting
- 12:03–12:10: Remembering a manageable conflict
- 12:10–12:17: Considering what the other person may fear, need or misunderstand
- 12:17–12:27: Ten minutes of silence
- 12:27–12:30: Choosing one peaceful response to attempt
Seated, standing and eyes-open alternatives would be available.
4. The Table of 11,111
Community meal, exhibition and encounter
12:30–13:45
The venue would be divided into eight encounter zones. Meals could be ordered with the ticket to reduce queues and food waste.
Affordable vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher-style and allergy-conscious options should be available.
German organisations could present practical work in:
- Peacebuilding and mediation
- Mental health and suicide prevention
- Civil protection
- Human rights and refugee support
- Accessibility and disability rights
- Youth participation
- Animal and environmental protection
- Interreligious and secular dialogue
Every organisation would answer:
“What can an ordinary person begin today to protect life?”
5. Earthpeacedialogue
Can One Gathering Begin a Global Earthpeace Movement?
13:45–15:45
The dialogue examines whether the Earthpeacehour can develop from an inspiring idea into a credible, measurable and inclusive movement.
Prospective moderator
Ingo Zamperoni could be invited to moderate independently. His experience in political journalism and international reporting would support a discussion that combines vision with critical examination. He currently belongs to the Tagesthemen presenting team.
Prospective participants
- Prof. Dr Nicole Deitelhoff – peace and conflict research
- Prof. Dr Tania Singer – empathy, compassion and social behaviour
- Albrecht Broemme – civil protection and operational responsibility
- Aminata Touré – youth, diversity and democratic participation
- Raúl Krauthausen – accessibility, dignity and inclusion
- Seyran Ateş – human rights and a liberal Muslim perspective
- Rabbi Prof. Dr Andreas Nachama – memory, reconciliation and interreligious dialogue
- Matthias Wille Janssen – presentation and defence of the Earthpeace proposal
Participants would contribute their personal and professional perspectives without being expected to represent entire communities.
Dialogue structure
Time
Theme
13:45–13:55
Audience poll: “Can a peaceful movement be deliberately initiated?”
13:55–14:25
Meaning: What could 11,111 people genuinely begin?
14:25–14:55
Credibility: How can the initiative avoid empty symbolism and exaggerated promises?
14:55–15:25
From Germany to the world: What would allow the idea to travel without being imposed?
15:25–15:40
Critical questions from the venue and livestream
15:40–15:45
Four recommendations for the next stage
6. Earthpeacetheatre
The First Light
16:00–17:30
A first invitation could be extended to the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz in Berlin to develop and perform the production with members of its ensemble. The Schaubühne works with a permanent ensemble of approximately 30 actors and a repertoire ranging from contemporary drama to reinterpretations of classical works.
The story
Eight people in different parts of Germany receive the same message:
“At exactly the same hour, stop and protect life.”
Some see the beginning of a movement. Others suspect manipulation, naïveté or an empty publicity campaign.
Above them hangs a dark map of the world. It does not illuminate when they speak about global peace. It responds only when someone takes a credible peaceful step in a conflict they can actually influence.
Characters
Character
Purpose
The Keeper of the Flame
Protects the vision but struggles to accept criticism
The Cartographer
Wants to plan a global movement before understanding its people
The Sceptic
Challenges unproven claims and exaggerated promises
The Messenger
Wants the idea to spread faster than trust can grow
The Guardian
Places safety and control above openness
The Witness
Protects memory from being forgotten or exploited
The Neighbour
Believes global peace is meaningless while local conflict continues
The Voice of Tomorrow
Asks what the present generation is prepared to begin
Dramatic sequence
Prologue — The Unlit Map
The eight characters receive the invitation. Nobody knows who sent it or whether anybody else will answer.
Scene One — The Conditions
Every character names a condition that must be met before they will participate: complete safety, worldwide attention, proof of success or a perfect plan.
Their conditions appear on the map as walls.
Scene Two — The First Refusal
The Neighbour reveals a conflict with someone living only a few metres away. The others dismiss it as too small for a global movement.
The map becomes completely dark.
Scene Three — One Conflict Close to Home
Each character must attempt one practical change: listen to criticism, correct an exaggeration, admit fear, ask for mediation or begin an interrupted conversation.
The first light appears.
Scene Four — When Others Answer
Additional lights appear as people in German communities take peaceful actions of their own.
No miracle occurs. The conflicts do not disappear—but they stop being passed onward without question.
Epilogue — The First Light
The map remains mostly dark.
The Sceptic: “Is that all?”
The Voice of Tomorrow: “No. It is the beginning.”
The eight characters conclude:
“We cannot promise where the light will travel. We can decide whether it begins here.”
7. Voices That Begin
17:30–18:10
The dialogue participants return individually with short, personal contributions:
- Nicole Deitelhoff: “What conflict research teaches us about beginning”
- Tania Singer: “Why compassion can be practised”
- Albrecht Broemme: “Why protecting life requires preparation”
- Aminata Touré: “Why a movement must include the next generation”
- Raúl Krauthausen: “Why peace must be accessible”
- Seyran Ateş: “Why peace also requires the courage to disagree”
- Andreas Nachama: “How memory can become responsibility”
- Matthias Wille Janssen: “What Earthpeace promises—and what it does not”
Each contribution would last no more than four minutes.
8. Earthpeace Across Germany
18:10–18:40
Short live connections would show German communities preparing for the Earthpeacehour.
Participating locations could include schools, hospitals, town squares, homes, cultural centres, places of worship, prisons and neighbourhood initiatives.
Each location would answer:
“What are you protecting during the Earthpeacehour?”
9. The Eight Founding Invitations
18:40–19:10
The dialogue participants each offer one invitation:
- Nicole Deitelhoff: Face conflict without dehumanising the other person.
- Tania Singer: Strengthen compassion through practice.
- Albrecht Broemme: Protect life through preparation and responsibility.
- Aminata Touré: Give younger generations a meaningful voice.
- Raúl Krauthausen: Include people from the beginning.
- Seyran Ateş: Protect freedom of belief, doubt and criticism.
- Andreas Nachama: Remember the past without surrendering the future.
- Matthias Wille Janssen: Carry the Earthpeacehour beyond this day.
These are invitations, not compulsory pledges.
10. The Movement Begins Here
19:10–20:00
Every guest receives one question:
“What peaceful beginning is within my reach?”
Participants may write down one action: opening a conversation, listening without interruption, seeking mediation, apologising, supporting someone in danger or joining a local initiative.
Selected anonymous responses appear on the screens alongside images from participating communities.
Short multilingual messages recorded by people living in Germany express the hope that the movement may eventually reach beyond national borders.
At exactly 20:00, one bell sounds and the Earthpeacehour begins.
11. The German Earthpeacehour
60 Minutes of Shared Silence
20:00–21:00
During the protected hour, there are:
- No speeches
- No music
- No advertising
- No fundraising
- No applause
- No political branding
- No compulsory prayer or physical contact
Emergency, medical and security services remain fully operational. Guests may move quietly, leave the venue or request assistance at any time.
The livestream uses calm images, natural ambient sound and no commentary apart from essential safety information.
At exactly 21:00, a second bell ends the hour and the concert begins.
12. Earthpeaceconcert
Songs for a New Beginning
21:00–22:23
The concert moves from personal renewal to community, humanity, confrontation with war and an active commitment to peace.
Time
Prospective performer
Proposed performance
21:00–21:07
Byklang
Instrumental introduction: “The First Sound”
21:07–21:13
Matthias Wille Janssen, youth choir and Earthpeace House Ensemble
“Earthpeace Anthem”
21:13–21:14
Transition
21:14–21:19
Clueso
“Neuanfang”
21:19–21:20
Transition
21:20–21:25
Laith Al Deen
“Dein Lied”
21:25–21:26
Transition
21:26–21:32
Andreas Bourani
“Auf uns”
21:32–21:33
Transition
21:33–21:39
Die Fantastischen Vier featuring Clueso
“Zusammen”
21:39–21:40
Transition
21:40–21:46
Herbert Grönemeyer
“Mensch”
21:46–21:47
Transition
21:47–21:53
Udo Lindenberg with a children’s choir
“Wozu sind Kriege da?”
21:53–21:54
Transition
21:54–22:00
Reinhard Mey and guests
“Nein, meine Söhne geb’ ich nicht”
22:00–22:01
Transition
22:01–22:07
Nicole
“Ein bißchen Frieden”
22:07–22:08
Transition
22:08–22:16
Udo Lindenberg and all available artists
“Wir ziehen in den Frieden”
22:16–22:23
Byklang
Instrumental conclusion: “The First Sound Continues”
All performances remain proposals. Artist participation, contracts, GEMA licensing, arrangements and broadcasting, streaming and recording rights require separate written agreements.
Capacity and ticket model
Allocation
Places
Proposed price
Potential income
Standard public tickets
4,800
€89
€427,200
Reduced-price tickets
2,200
€49
€107,800
Youth and educational tickets
1,500
€25
€37,500
Premium seated tickets
700
€199
€139,300
Supporter tickets
800
€299
€239,200
Civil-society allocation
500
€39
€19,500
Accessible places
211
€49
€10,339
Companions, media and essential invited guests
400
Free
€0
Total
11,111
€980,839
Supporter and premium tickets help finance the reduced, youth and civil-society allocations.
Preliminary cost model
Cost area
Planning allowance
Venue and utilities
€60,000
Stage, sound, lighting, video and power
€175,000
Theatre development and rehearsals
€75,000
Concert production and performers
€90,000
Event management, staff and logistics
€65,000
Security, medical and fire services
€90,000
Accessibility and safeguarding
€45,000
Livestream and media production
€30,000
Rights, legal advice, insurance and permits
€55,000
Visitor infrastructure and environmental measures
€35,000
Travel and accommodation
€20,000
Communication, ticketing and administration
€35,000
Contingency reserve
€75,000
Target expenditure
€850,000
At full ticket sales, the model creates a planning reserve of approximately €130,839. Break-even would be reached at approximately 86.7% of projected ticket revenue.
The estimate assumes a shared stage, limited livestream production, negotiated venue costs and capped or reduced artist fees. A fully commercial production with all original artists at regular market fees would require additional financing.
Independence
No sponsor, political institution, artist, religious organisation or ticket purchaser may control the Earthpeacehour or its central message.
From 20:00 to 21:00, the stage and broadcast remain free from advertising, fundraising and commercial messaging.
The defining invitation
The 11,111 guests would not be asked to prove that peace is easy or that one gathering can transform the world.
They would be invited to demonstrate something more credible:
A global movement does not begin everywhere at once. It begins when enough people decide that protecting life can start where they are.
The Third Earthpeaceassembly
The Second German Earthpeaceday
44,444 People for One Shared Hour
Sunday, 8 August 2027 · Proposed German Earthpeace Day · Venue to be confirmed
Arrival → Listening → Understanding → Questioning → Imagining → Connecting → Silence → Action → Celebration
The Goal
For the first time within the Earthpeace initiative, people throughout Germany would be invited to synchronise for one shared, voluntary and peaceful moment.
The intention is not to synchronise opinions, beliefs or political positions. It is to unite people around one simple responsibility:
For one shared hour, we place the protection of life above everything that divides us.
All personalities and artists named in this programme are prospective invitees only. Their participation has not been confirmed and must not be publicly announced or implied until written agreements have been concluded.
The Central Question
Can 44,444 people show how peace begins—before the whole world joins them?
The assembly does not claim that one gathering can end every conflict. It creates a protected space in which thousands of different people can listen, disagree respectfully, imagine alternatives and finally share one hour of silence.
The decisive question is not whether everyone thinks alike. It is whether people who think differently can still act peacefully at the same moment and place the protection of life above their differences.
Full Programme
Time
Programme
08:30
Doors open; accessibility services, quiet areas and Earthpeace information spaces
09:30
Musical welcome by Byklang, prospectively accompanied by the youth choir Vokalhelden
09:45
Opening words by Matthias Wille Janssen
10:00–12:00
Earthpeacesatsang – “When the World Answers”, prospectively guided by Thomas Hübl
12:00–12:15
Path of Attunement – a silent transition through sound, light and movement
12:15–13:00
Earthpeacemeditation – “From Reaction to Response”, prospectively guided by Dr Ulrich Ott
13:00–14:00
The Table of 44,444 – community meal, exhibitions and encounters
14:00–16:00
Earthpeacedialogue – “Can Peace Be Synchronised?”
16:00–16:15
Reflection interval and transformation of the stage
16:15–17:45
Earthpeacetheatre – “The Power of Synchronicity”
17:45–18:10
Earthpeace Across Germany – regional connections and media window
18:10–18:35
Voices That Protect Life
18:35–19:00
The Eight Answers to Earthpeace
19:00–19:45
44,444 Lights – Germany Approaches Stillness
19:45–20:00
Quiet arrival; all ordinary speaking, advertising and music gradually end
20:00–21:00
The Second German Earthpeacehour – 60 Minutes of Shared Silence
21:00–22:48
Earthpeaceconcert – “Songs for the Life We Share”
22:48–22:53
Closing words by Matthias Wille Janssen
23:00
End of the event
1. Earthpeacesatsang
When the World Answers
10:00–12:00
A first invitation could be extended to Thomas Hübl, a spiritual teacher, author and international facilitator whose work connects wisdom traditions with scientific perspectives and focuses particularly on collective trauma, human attunement and social transformation.
The Earthpeacesatsang remains open and non-denominational. Here, satsang means a gathering devoted to truthfulness, attentive presence and reflection—not a religious service.
People of every faith, philosophy and worldview, including those who follow none, should feel equally welcome.
Proposed Sequence
- 10:00–10:12: Welcome: “Can a Country Become Present at the Same Moment?”
- 10:12–10:25: Collective listening exercise using the natural sounds of the venue.
- 10:25–10:50: Reflection: “From Collective Wounds to Collective Responsibility.”
- 10:50–11:10: Reflection: “Attunement Is Not Agreement.”
- 11:10–11:28: Individual exercise: participants write down one person or perspective they have stopped hearing.
- 11:28–11:43: Conversation with a youth representative: “What Does the Future Need Us to Hear?”
- 11:43–11:55: Questions from the audience.
- 11:55–12:00: One shared minute of silence and the closing question: “Where could peace begin through me?”
The session is not presented as psychotherapy or collective trauma treatment. Nobody is asked to disclose personal experiences, close their eyes, touch another person or participate in an exercise that feels uncomfortable.
The Path of Attunement
12:00–12:15
Instead of an ordinary interval, the audience experiences a silent transition.
Individual members of Byklang play short, distant notes from different parts of the venue. Initially, the sounds appear unrelated. Gradually, they form one shared musical pattern.
Simple phrases appear on the screens:
- “Notice what you hear.”
- “Notice what you resist.”
- “Notice who is beside you.”
- “Synchronisation is not sameness.”
- “You do not have to agree in order to listen.”
Participants may remain seated, move quietly, drink water or visit the quiet areas.
2. Earthpeacemeditation
From Reaction to Response
12:15–13:00
A prospective guide would be Dr Ulrich Ott, a psychologist and meditation researcher whose work examines meditation and altered states of consciousness scientifically.
The meditation prepares participants for the longer shared silence in the evening.
Meditation Journey
- 12:15–12:20: Orientation in the venue with eyes open.
- 12:20–12:26: Awareness of breath and physical contact with the chair or ground.
- 12:26–12:33: Recognising tension without immediately acting upon it.
- 12:33–12:40: Remembering a manageable conflict from everyday life.
- 12:40–12:47: Considering what the other person may fear or need.
- 12:47–12:57: Ten minutes of complete silence.
- 12:57–13:00: Choosing one peaceful response to carry into the following day.
The meditation offers seated, standing and eyes-open alternatives. Participation is voluntary and does not require acceptance of a spiritual teaching.
3. The Table of 44,444
Community Meal, Exhibition and Encounter
13:00–14:00
The venue is divided into eight clearly marked encounter zones. Food can be pre-ordered through the ticketing system to reduce queues and food waste.
Affordable vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher-style and allergy-conscious options should be available. Free drinking-water stations are distributed throughout the venue.
Approximately 40 carefully selected organisations could present practical work in:
- Peacebuilding and mediation
- Mental health and suicide prevention
- Human rights
- Emergency assistance
- Disability rights
- Refugee support
- Animal protection
- Climate and environmental responsibility
- Youth participation
- Interreligious and secular dialogue
Instead of promotional speeches, every organisation answers one question:
“What can an ordinary person do within their lifetime to protect life?”
4. Earthpeacedialogue
Can Peace Be Synchronised?
14:00–16:00
The dialogue examines whether millions of people can be invited into one peaceful moment without demanding uniformity of thought.
Synchronisation can create solidarity—but collective coordination also raises difficult questions:
- Who determines the common signal?
- Who defines what peace means?
- How can participation remain voluntary?
- How can hospitals and emergency services participate without interrupting their work?
- What happens when violence continues elsewhere?
- How can the effect be measured without exaggeration?
- How can the initiative resist political, religious or commercial appropriation?
The purpose is not to manufacture agreement. It is to determine what would make a nationally synchronised Earthpeacehour legitimate, safe, inclusive and credible.
Prospective Moderator
Dunja Hayali could be invited to moderate independently and ensure that difficult questions are not replaced by ceremonial agreement.
Prospective Participants
- Prof. Dr Carlo Masala, contributing expertise in international politics and security.
- Prof. Dr Tania Singer, contributing research on empathy, compassion and social behaviour.
- Dr Irina Scherbakowa, contributing perspectives on historical memory, repression and civil courage.
- Albrecht Broemme, contributing experience in civil protection, crisis management and complex operational systems.
- Aminata Touré, contributing perspectives on youth, diversity and democratic participation.
- Seyran Ateş, contributing a liberal Muslim and human-rights perspective.
- Rabbi Prof. Dr Andreas Nachama, contributing Jewish perspectives on memory, dignity and reconciliation.
- Matthias Wille Janssen, presenting and defending the Earthpeace proposal.
No participant would be expected to represent every member of a religion, institution, generation or community.
Dialogue Structure
Time
Theme and central question
14:00–14:10
Opening poll: “Can millions of people coordinate one peaceful hour without surrendering their differences?”
14:10–14:35
Meaning: What is the difference between synchronising peaceful conduct and synchronising thought?
14:35–15:00
Reality and security: Who provides the signal, how is safety maintained and what happens when violence continues elsewhere?
15:00–15:25
Human behaviour: Can shared attention strengthen compassion, trust or cooperation—and how could this be measured responsibly?
15:25–15:45
Freedom and pluralism: How can the hour remain voluntary, decentralised and open to religious, secular and political differences?
15:45–15:55
Critical questions from the venue, regional assemblies and livestream
15:55–16:00
Four practical recommendations for credible national synchronisation
The dialogue should seek four practical outcomes:
- A simple common protocol for the Earthpeacehour.
- Freedom for regional assemblies to express the idea in their own way.
- Independent measurement distinguishing aspirations from verified results.
- Binding principles for safety, inclusion, neutrality and transparency.
5. Earthpeacetheatre
The Power of Synchronicity
16:15–17:45 · Running time: 90 minutes
The production explores two related ideas:
- Synchronisation: people choosing to act at the same time.
- Synchronicity: separate events unexpectedly acquiring shared meaning.
In a city of 44,444 people, every public clock suddenly begins displaying a different time. On the same evening, the city is supposed to attempt one shared minute of peace.
Without a common clock, nobody knows when the minute should begin.
Eight strangers meet in an abandoned broadcasting studio. Each holds one fragment of what the city needs: a signal, a memory, a warning, a rhythm, a voice, a reason to doubt and a reason to begin.
Characters and Prospective Cast
Character
Dramatic purpose
Prospective performer
The Keeper of Time
Remembers every public promise the city has failed to keep
Iris Berben
The Conductor
Believes synchronisation requires precision and control
August Diehl
The Listener
Hears patterns and fears that others overlook
Liv Lisa Fries
The Protector
Prioritises safety and distrusts untested collective experiments
Edin Hasanović
The Archivist
Carries histories of unity, manipulation and resistance
Devid Striesow
The Stranger
Moves between communities but is regarded as an outsider by each
Florence Kasumba
The Voice of Tomorrow
Speaks for those who will inherit today’s consequences
Luna Wedler
The Neighbour
Believes ordinary people cannot influence history
Charly Hübner
Complete Dramatic Treatment
Prologue — 44,444 Clocks
7 minutes
The stage is dark. Thousands of ticking sounds emerge from different directions. The screens show clocks in homes, hospitals, railway stations and public squares. Every clock displays a different time.
The Keeper of Time says:
“A city can share streets, water and history—and still live in forty-four thousand different moments.”
A message appears:
ONE SHARED MINUTE BEGINS AT 20:00.
The clocks continue to disagree.
Scene One — The Missed Signal
12 minutes
The Conductor attempts to send a signal across the city. One district receives it early. Another receives it late. A hospital cannot silence its alarms. A family refuses to participate. A child begins the minute alone.
The Protector says:
“A peaceful signal that disrupts an emergency is no longer peaceful.”
The first attempt fails before it begins.
Scene Two — Everyone’s Own Time
12 minutes
The characters explain what the shared minute means to them:
- The Keeper of Time sees a promise.
- The Conductor sees a technical challenge.
- The Listener sees an opportunity to hear what noise conceals.
- The Protector sees a security risk.
- The Archivist remembers how collective rituals have served both liberation and manipulation.
- The Stranger wonders whether a community can call itself united while people remain unseen.
- The Voice of Tomorrow asks why humanity can coordinate markets and machines but not one moment of protection.
- The Neighbour asks what difference sixty seconds could make.
Nobody is portrayed as completely right or wrong.
Scene Three — The Cost of Command
14 minutes
The Conductor designs a central system that would control every light, screen and telephone.
The Archivist objects:
“History has taught us to be careful when one voice tells everyone when to speak, when to stop and what to feel.”
The Stranger proposes one shared time but many forms of participation.
Hospitals continue working. Emergency services remain active. People may sit, stand, pray, reflect, walk quietly or decline to participate.
The group discovers that synchronisation does not require identical behaviour. It requires a shared responsibility.
Musical Interlude — The Pulse
5 minutes
Byklang begins with eight unrelated rhythms. They do not become identical. Instead, they discover one shared pulse beneath their differences.
Points of light appear across a map of Germany. No single point dominates the others.
Scene Four — The Chain of Attention
14 minutes
The broadcasting system fails completely.
The Listener proposes that the signal travel from person to person rather than from one authority to everyone.
A nurse tells a patient. A teacher tells a class. A prisoner tells a guard. A child tells a grandparent. A mosque contacts a humanist association. A village calls a city. A sceptic reminds an idealist to check the emergency plan.
The message changes slightly as it travels, but its core remains:
“At eight, protect life where you are.”
Scene Five — The Minute That Failed
13 minutes
The city makes a second attempt.
Some people begin early. A telephone rings. Two participants argue about peace. Somebody laughs nervously. An ambulance passes through the square.
The Neighbour declares the experiment a failure.
The Voice of Tomorrow answers:
“You thought peace would sound perfect. Perhaps it sounds like people beginning again.”
The group recognises that success cannot mean the absence of interruption. It means choosing peaceful conduct despite interruption.
Scene Six — Begin Again
8 minutes
No countdown appears.
Each character performs one small act:
- The Conductor lowers their hand.
- The Protector keeps the emergency channel open.
- The Archivist closes the book without forgetting its contents.
- The Stranger is invited to stand at the centre.
- The Neighbour puts away the telephone.
- The Listener notices the breathing of the room.
- The Keeper of Time stops watching the clock.
- The Voice of Tomorrow lights one small lamp.
Across the stage, 44,444 lights appear.
The audience is invited—but not instructed—to share one minute of silence.
Epilogue — The Time We Share
5 minutes
The clocks still display different times.
The Voice of Tomorrow asks:
“Did time finally obey you?”
The Listener answers:
“No. We listened until we could begin together.”
The Neighbour looks toward the audience:
“For one minute, nobody was early or late. Everyone was responsible.”
The Keeper of Time closes the play:
“Peace did not arrive because every clock agreed. It arrived because enough people chose the same responsibility.”
6. Earthpeace Across Germany
17:45–18:10
Short live connections show regional Earthpeaceassemblies preparing in villages, schools, hospitals, cultural centres, places of worship and neighbourhood initiatives.
Each location receives no more than 45 seconds and answers:
“What are you protecting during the Earthpeacehour?”
The map clearly distinguishes confirmed assemblies from expressions of interest.
7. Voices That Protect Life
18:10–18:35
Prospective contributions could come from:
- Raúl Krauthausen on dignity and accessibility.
- Fadumo Korn on protecting girls and women from violence.
- Dr Lisa Federle on medical responsibility.
- Ali Can on dialogue across social divisions.
- Prof. Dr Maja Göpel on nature and future generations.
- Two nationally selected young people, representing urban and rural communities.
Every speaker answers:
“What has helped you protect life—and what can the rest of us learn from it?”
8. The Eight Answers to Earthpeace
18:35–19:00
Time
Prospective speaker
Answer
18:35–18:38
Dr Lisa Federle
Protect life before defending pride.
18:38–18:41
Thomas Hübl
Listen long enough to be surprised.
18:41–18:44
Fadumo Korn
Refuse every language that turns people into objects.
18:44–18:47
Dr Irina Scherbakowa
Remember those who cannot be present.
18:47–18:50
Raúl Krauthausen
Include people whose needs are treated as an afterthought.
18:50–18:53
Prof. Dr Maja Göpel
Protect animals, nature and future generations.
18:53–18:56
Ali Can
Reduce one conflict you can actually influence.
18:56–18:59
Nationally selected youth representative
Carry the hour into the following day.
18:59–19:00
One minute without commentary
These are invitations, not compulsory pledges.
9. 44,444 Lights
Germany Approaches Stillness
19:00–19:45
Every guest is offered a reusable, low-energy light. Accepting or activating it remains voluntary.
A living map displays confirmed regional gatherings across Germany.
Byklang creates a musical sequence in which different melodies enter at different times but gradually discover one shared pulse.
Beginning at 19:30, the venue lights soften. The music becomes simpler until only one sustained tone remains.
The prospective youth choir Vokalhelden contributes one wordless final harmony.
At 19:45, all music and ordinary speaking end. Only necessary safety announcements may interrupt the transition.
10. The Second German Earthpeacehour
20:00–21:00
A single bell begins the hour at 20:00 and ends it at 21:00.
During the protected hour, there are:
- No speeches
- No music
- No advertising
- No political branding
- No fundraising
- No applause
- No compulsory prayer
- No compulsory physical contact
- No expectation that everybody experience silence identically
Emergency, medical and security services remain fully operational.
The livestream uses calm images, natural ambient sound and no commentary. Quiet movement, leaving and requesting assistance remain possible.
The hour is not proof that violence has disappeared. Its success consists in people voluntarily choosing peaceful conduct at the same time.
11. Earthpeaceconcert
Songs for the Life We Share
21:00–22:48
The closing bell sounds at 21:00. After approximately 30 seconds of continuing stillness, Byklang begins gently.
One-minute changes require two alternating performance areas, shared backline, advance sound checks and a professional house ensemble.
Time
Prospective performer
Proposed performance
21:00–21:07
Byklang
“44,444 Lights” – commissioned instrumental opening
21:07–21:08
Musical transition
21:08–21:15
Matthias Wille Janssen with Byklang
“Earthpeace Anthem”
21:15–21:16
Transition
21:16–21:23
Michael Patrick Kelly
“Peacebell”
21:23–21:24
Transition
21:24–21:31
Reinhard Mey and guests
“Nein, meine Söhne geb’ ich nicht”
21:31–21:32
Transition
21:32–21:39
Konstantin Wecker
“Sage Nein!”
21:39–21:40
Transition
21:40–21:47
Marius Müller-Westernhagen
“Freiheit”
21:47–21:48
Transition
21:48–21:55
PUR
“Neue Brücken”
21:55–21:56
Transition
21:56–22:03
Die Fantastischen Vier
“Zusammen”
22:03–22:04
Transition
22:04–22:11
Gentleman
“One Love”
22:11–22:12
Transition
22:12–22:19
Max Mutzke
“What a Wonderful World”
22:19–22:20
Transition
22:20–22:27
Cassandra Steen
“Stadt”
22:27–22:28
Transition
22:28–22:35
Namika
“Lieblingsmensch”
22:35–22:36
Transition
22:36–22:45
All available artists with Vokalhelden
“Give Peace a Chance”
22:45–22:48
Byklang
Instrumental reprise
22:48–22:53
Matthias Wille Janssen
Closing words
23:00
End of the event
All artists, songs and arrangements are suggestions and require written agreements, GEMA licensing and broadcasting permissions.
Capacity and Ticket Model
Category
Places
Gross price
Potential revenue
Standard public admission
20,000
€149
€2,980,000
Premium admission
6,000
€229
€1,374,000
Reduced-price admission
6,000
€89
€534,000
Youth and educational organisations
3,444
€39
€134,316
Supporter tickets
3,000
€349
€1,047,000
Regional and civil-society organisations
2,000
€59
€118,000
Accessible paid places
500
€89
€44,500
Necessary companions
500
Free
€0
Invited institutions, media and programme guests
1,500
Free
€0
Solidarity allocation
1,500
Free
€0
Total
44,444
€6,231,816
The model includes 40,944 paid places and 3,500 free places.
Illustrative Overall Budget
Cost area
Preliminary net budget
Venue and temporary infrastructure
€650,000
Stage, sound, lighting, video and power
€1,400,000
Artists, speakers, theatre and rehearsals
€1,250,000
Security, fire protection and medical services
€650,000
Broadcasting and livestreaming
€600,000
Event management, staffing and logistics
€550,000
Accessibility services
€250,000
Rights, legal advice, insurance and permits
€350,000
Sanitation, mobility and environmental measures
€350,000
Communications, campaign and ticketing
€450,000
Travel and accommodation
€250,000
Contingency reserve
€750,000
Indicative total cost
€7,500,000
This is a planning model, not a binding quotation.
How the Event Could Be Financed
Gross ticket income at full paid capacity:
€6.23 million
Assuming conservatively that the advertised prices include up to 19% VAT, the tickets would provide approximately:
€5.24 million net
Complementary financing
Target
Anchor partners and sponsors
€1,400,000
Public funding and foundations
€750,000
Broadcasting and media partnerships
€350,000
Donations, concessions and merchandise
€250,000
Total
€2,750,000
Potential total net financing:
Approximately €7.99 million
Against an indicative cost budget of €7.5 million, this would provide a reserve of approximately €487,000.
Provided that the complementary financing is secured, the indicative break-even point would be approximately:
- 37,138 paid tickets
- 90.7% of the paid inventory
- 83.6% of the total capacity
A venue agreement, professional organiser, realistic cost plan and substantial anchor financing should therefore be secured before public ticket sales begin.
Safety, Accessibility and Care
The production requires:
- Professional overall event management
- Evacuation planning for 44,444 guests
- Police, fire-service and medical coordination
- Severe-weather and heat procedures
- Safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults
- Quiet rooms and psychological first aid
- Step-free routes and wheelchair platforms
- Accessible toilets
- German Sign Language
- Live captioning and audio description
- Easy-to-understand German
- Emergency procedures throughout the silent hour
The symbolic figure of 44,444 must never take priority over the capacity authorised by the venue and responsible authorities.
Financing and Independence
Sponsors may be acknowledged in programmes, entrance areas and closing credits.
There should be no commercial messages, promotional speeches or sponsor branding on the central stage during the transition into silence or the Earthpeacehour.
No sponsor, ticket purchaser, political institution, artist or invited personality receives control over the Earthpeacehour or its commitment to protecting life.
All significant financing should be disclosed transparently.
Measuring Success
An independently reviewed report should document:
- Attendance at the central event
- Confirmed regional assemblies
- Participation in the Earthpeacehour
- Safety and medical incidents
- Accessibility
- Livestream reach
- Environmental impact
- Income and expenditure
- Subsequent community projects
- Lessons for the global Earthpeacehour in 2033
The report should distinguish between registered participation, estimated reach, verified participation and aspirational impact.
The Defining Invitation
The 44,444 guests would not be asked to prove that peace is easy.
They would be invited to demonstrate something more honest:
We do not need to agree on everything before we begin protecting life together.
Perhaps humanity’s first global Earthpeacehour will not begin everywhere at once.
Perhaps it will begin when enough people, in enough different places, choose to become peaceful at the same time.
The Fourth Earthpeaceassembly
The Third German Earthpeaceday 2027
Proposed Programme · Sunday, 8 August 2029
Arrival → Reflection → Encounter → Imagination → Silence → Celebration → Commitment
The Second Earthpeaceassembly is envisioned as the central gathering of the proposed German Earthpeaceday on 8 August 2027.
It would serve as a national pilot project on the journey towards the global Earthpeacehour envisioned for 8 August 2033: one shared hour in which humanity is invited to place the protection of life above violence, division and retaliation.
At the heart of the German Earthpeaceday lies a simple yet far-reaching question:
Can Germany protect life together for one Earthpeaceday?
The German Earthpeaceday brings together contemplation, artistic expression, critical public dialogue, civic participation, shared responsibility and collective silence.
It does not promise that every conflict will be resolved in a single day. It asks whether millions of different people can consciously place the protection of life at the centre of their actions for one day—and join in one shared hour of silence.
The initiative is intended to be voluntary, inclusive, non-partisan and open to people of every faith, philosophy, culture and political outlook, as well as those who follow no particular belief.
Important notice: Every person and artist named on this page is a prospective invitee only. No participation has been confirmed. Their involvement must not be announced or implied until written agreements have been concluded.
The Programme at a Glance
Time
Programme
08:30
Doors open; accessibility assistance, quiet areas and Earthpeace information spaces
09:30
Musical welcome by Byklang, accompanied by a children’s choir and visual introduction
09:45
Opening words by Matthias Wille Janssen
10:00–12:00
Earthpeacesatsang with prospective guide Eckhart Tolle — “The Stillness Within Germany”
12:00–12:15
The Silent Passage — rest, movement and transition into meditation
12:15–13:00
Earthpeacemeditation with prospective guide Dr Britta Hölzel — “One Breath, One Country, One Humanity”
13:00–14:00
Community meal, exhibitions and encounters with peace organisations
14:00–16:00
Earthpeacedialogue — “Can Germany Protect Life Together for One Earthpeaceday?”
16:00–16:15
Reflection interval, refreshments and transformation of the stage
16:15–17:45
Earthpeacetheatre — “The Hour That Does Not Yet Exist”
17:45–18:10
Media interviews and live connections with regional Earthpeaceassemblies
18:10–18:35
Voices of Life — Testimonies and Perspectives from Across Society
18:35–19:00
The Eight Invitations to Earthpeace
19:00–19:45
Germany Becomes Still — A Living Map of Regional Assemblies
19:45–20:00
Quiet arrival; the lights soften and all speaking ends
20:00–21:00
The German Earthpeacehour — 60 Minutes of Shared Silence
21:00–21:12
One bell, gentle reflection and a voluntary gesture of reconciliation
21:12–23:00
Earthpeaceconcert — “Germany Sings for Earthpeace”
23:00–23:05
Closing words by Matthias Wille Janssen
23:10
End of the event
1. Earthpeacesatsang
The Stillness Within Germany
10:00–12:00
The Earthpeacesatsang is conceived as an open, non-denominational gathering for reflection. It is not a religious service. People of every faith, philosophy and worldview—and people who follow none—should feel equally welcome.
A first invitation could be extended to Eckhart Tolle, who would be invited to guide the complete session.
Proposed sequence
· 10:00–10:10 — Welcome: “A Moment of Stillness in a Restless World”
Eckhart Tolle introduces the gathering and reflects on the possibility of meeting uncertainty through presence rather than fear.
· 10:10–10:25 — Accessible Breathing and Grounding Exercise
A gentle, voluntary practice invites participants to become aware of their breathing, bodies and surroundings.
· 10:25–10:45 — Reflection: “The German Earthpeaceday Begins Within Us”
A reflection on the German Earthpeaceday as an invitation to pause habitual reactions and consider how individual awareness could contribute to a more peaceful society.
· 10:45–11:05 — Reflection: “Can Humanity Become Still Together?”
Eckhart Tolle explores the vision of the Earthpeacehour: millions of people entering one shared period of stillness without needing to share the same beliefs, identities or opinions.
· 11:05–11:20 — Guided Stillness: “One Country, One Humanity, This Moment”
Participants are invited to experience a period of guided presence and recognise the life they share with every other person.
· 11:20–11:35 — Reflection: “From Inner Peace to Shared Responsibility”
A reflection on how inner awareness might influence relationships, public life and the collective commitment to protect life during the German Earthpeaceday and the global Earthpeacehour.
· 11:35–11:40 — Quiet Integration
Five minutes without guidance allow participants to absorb the reflections and prepare their questions.
· 11:40–11:55 — Questions from the Audience
Eckhart Tolle responds to selected questions concerning stillness, human conflict, the German Earthpeaceday and the global Earthpeacehour.
· 11:55–12:00 — Shared Silence and Closing Words
The session concludes with one shared minute of complete silence, followed by a brief invitation to carry awareness, compassion and responsibility into the remainder of the day.Participation in breathing exercises, closing the eyes, writing or speaking with another person remains entirely voluntary.
The Silent Passage
12:00–12:15
The fifteen-minute interval between the Earthpeacesatsang and Earthpeacemeditation is not an ordinary programme break. It is a gentle transition from reflection into shared awareness.
- 12:00–12:03: The satsang concludes without immediate applause.
- 12:03–12:08: Participants may drink water, stretch or quietly request assistance.
- 12:08–12:12: The stage is reset while the audience remains in a calm atmosphere.
- 12:12–12:15: A soft visual signal invites everyone to return to their seats and prepare for the meditation.
There are no advertisements, speeches or promotional announcements during this passage.
2. Earthpeacemeditation
One Breath, One Country, One Humanity
12:15–13:00
A first invitation to guide the Earthpeacemeditation could be extended to Dr Britta Hölzel, a psychologist, neuroscientist and mindfulness teacher whose work connects contemplative practice with scientific research.
The meditation prepares participants for the longer shared silence in the evening.
Meditation journey
- 12:15–12:20: Arriving in the body and becoming aware of the surroundings
- 12:20–12:27: Gratitude for life, freedom and human dignity
- 12:27–12:34: Remembrance of people affected by war, violence, suicide and displacement
- 12:34–12:41: Compassion for people with whom we disagree
- 12:41–12:48: Awareness of animals, nature and future generations
- 12:48–12:58: Ten minutes of complete silence
- 12:58–13:00: Closing reflection: “What peaceful action will I carry into tomorrow?”
Chairs, standing areas, an eyes-open alternative, German Sign Language and live captioning should be available.
No participant is asked to accept a spiritual teaching. The meditation is an invitation to awareness, empathy and responsibility.
3. Community Meal and Earthpeace Forum
13:00–14:00
At the Berlin Olympic Stadium, this programme would use the spectator blocks, concourses and hospitality areas rather than attempting one conventional seated lunch.
Ticket holders could select a vegetarian or vegan meal in advance. Meals would be distributed through colour-coded collection points assigned to each seating block, using the stadium’s catering facilities and additional temporary stations. Staggered collection, free drinking water, allergen information and accessible service points would reduce queues.
- 13:00–13:20: Block-by-block meal collection
- 13:20–13:45: Shared meal, with optional conversation prompts displayed on the screens
- 13:45–13:55: Short presentations from selected peace, humanitarian, environmental and social organisations
- 13:55–14:00: Quiet return to seats for the Earthpeacedialogue
Exhibition stands would be positioned along the stadium concourses and remain open throughout the day. A digital map would introduce regional Earthpeaceassemblies, while QR codes would allow visitors to explore participating organisations without creating overcrowding.
The purpose is to transform the stadium briefly into a place of hospitality and encounter—where peace is practised through sharing, listening and welcoming difference.
4. Earthpeacedialogue
Can Germany Protect Life Together for One Earthpeaceday?
14:00–16:00
The Earthpeacedialogue opens the initiative to serious public examination. Its purpose is not to stage agreement, but to explore what would be required to transform an ambitious vision into a credible national pilot and ultimately global project.
Prospective moderator
Markus Lanz could be invited to moderate the dialogue with journalistic independence and to raise critical, practical and sometimes uncomfortable questions.
Prospective Participants
· Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff, Executive Director of the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, contributing expertise in peace and conflict research
· Sabine Lackner, President of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief, contributing expertise in civil protection, emergency coordination and operational feasibility
· Düzen Takkal, journalist, filmmaker and human-rights advocate, contributing a civil-society perspective on freedom, human dignity and the protection of persecuted communities
· Wendelin Haag, Chair of the German Federal Youth Council—or another officially delegated representative in 2027—representing the perspectives and responsibilities of younger generations
· Tareq Alaows, Syrian-German activist and refugee-policy spokesperson for PRO ASYL, contributing professional expertise and lived experience concerning displacement, participation and human rights
· Margot Kässmann, Protestant theologian and former Chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, contributing a Christian perspective on peace, conscience and reconciliation
· Dr. Michael Schmidt Salomon, philosopher, author and spokesperson of the Giordano Bruno Foundation, contributing a humanist and secular perspective
· Imam Benjamin Idriz, imam of the Islamic Community of Penzberg, contributing a Muslim perspective shaped by interreligious dialogue and bridge-building
· Rabi Gesa Edderberg, rabbi and co-founder of Masorti Germany, contributing a Jewish perspective on memory, dignity, responsibility and reconciliation
· Dr. Barbara Slowik Meisel, President of the Berlin Police, contributing expertise in public safety, de-escalation and the operational responsibilities associated with a major national gathering
· Matthias Wille Janssen, presenting the proposal and the long-term vision of the Earthpeacehour on behalf of the Earthpeace Association
Dialogue structure
14:00–14:10 — Opening questions
The audience responds to two questions:
- Can Germany protect life together for one Earthpeaceday?
- What can help us to grow this momentum until 8.8.2033?
14:10–14:40 — Meaning and global significance
What could the German Earthpeaceday mean for Germany and the world if it succeeded?
This round considers whether a national act of peaceful cooperation could encourage international participation without exaggerating what one symbolic day can accomplish.
14:40–15:10 — Feasibility and responsibility
What practical, political and ethical conditions would have to be fulfilled until the 8.8.2033?
Topics include:
- Safety and emergency planning
- Voluntary participation
- Protection from political or commercial appropriation
- Inclusion of critics, minorities and dissenting voices
- Measurement of participation and impact
- Transparent financing
- The distinction between aspiration and verifiable results
15:10–15:30 — Religious, humanist and public-safety perspectives
Focused contributions address dignity, social trust, de-escalation, freedom of conscience and the shared responsibility to protect life.
15:30–15:50 — Questions from the public
Questions are selected from the stadium. Critical questions receive the same consideration as supportive ones.
15:50–16:00 — Three practical recommendations
The dialogue concludes not with a staged declaration of agreement, but with three concrete recommendations for preparing the global Earthpeacehour in 2033.
4. Reflection Interval
From Dialogue to Imagination
16:00–16:15
The interval provides time for refreshments, accessible movement and a quiet transition from public discussion to artistic reflection.
Anonymous statements from the dialogue appear on the stadium screens. A restrained instrumental soundscape accompanies the transformation of the stage. There are no speeches or promotional announcements.
5. Earthpeacetheatre
The Hour That Does Not Yet Exist
16:15–17:45 · Running time: 90 minutes
The Earthpeacetheatre is an original production combining drama, music, spoken word, documentary material and audience reflection.
Germany is invited to attempt something it has never done before: becoming still together without denying its differences.
Eight characters enter the stage carrying contrasting experiences of contemporary society. They disagree about peace, responsibility and whether one shared hour can matter. No character is entirely right, and none is portrayed as wholly good or evil.
Characters and Prospective Cast
Character
Dramatic purpose
Prospective invitee
The Voice of Planet Earth
Connects past, present and future without condemning humanity
Martina Gedeck
The Seeker
Introduces the shared hour and carries the central question
Jella Haase
The Mediator
Creates understanding without erasing disagreement
Sandra Hüller
The Chronicler
Confronts the group with history, memory and responsibility
Daniel Brühl
The Sceptic
Challenges idealism, symbolism and exaggerated promises
Bjarne Mädel
The Voice of Fear
Gives language to insecurity, anger and mistrust
Lars Eidinger
The Voice of the Future
Speaks for those who will inherit the consequences of today’s decisions
Paula Beer
The Citizen
Represents the individual who doubts their ability to influence history
Tom Schilling
All actors named above are prospective invitees only. Their participation has not been confirmed and must not be announced or implied until personal consent, artistic agreement and written contracts have been obtained.
The story
Prologue — Planet Earth Listens
The stadium is dark. Sounds of traffic, machinery, aircraft, arguments and news broadcasts emerge from different directions.
The Voice of Planet Earth says:
“You have given names to every border, every victory and every wound. But you have not yet given a name to the hour in which nobody is killed.”
The characters appear separately in narrow beams of light. Byklang introduces a fragmented melody. Every character attempts to speak, but each voice is overwhelmed by the surrounding noise.
The Seeker finally asks:
“What would happen if we stopped—not forever, but together and for one hour?”
The noise disappears.
Scene One — The Room of Positions
The characters gather around a table but refuse to sit beside those with whom they disagree.
The Sceptic calls the proposal naïve. The Chronicler warns that silence has sometimes protected injustice. The Voice of Fear argues that lowering one’s guard invites danger. The Citizen believes that questions of war and peace belong to governments rather than ordinary people.
The Mediator asks each character to explain the previous speaker’s concern before presenting their own opinion. Gradually, they discover the difference between understanding an argument and agreeing with it.
Scene Two — The Archive of Memory
The Chronicler opens an imaginary archive. Documentary fragments recall war, dictatorship, persecution, division, resistance, reconciliation and democratic renewal.
The Chronicler says:
“Memory does not command us to believe that peace is easy. Memory commands us to understand what happens when protecting life becomes secondary.”
Historical material must be independently fact-checked and developed with historians and representatives of affected communities. Human suffering must never become theatrical decoration.
Scene Three — The Empty Chair
An empty chair is placed at the centre of the stage. It represents those who cannot be present: victims of violence, people in war zones, refugees, isolated individuals, future generations and animals without a human voice.
Each character addresses the chair. The scene ends with one question:
“Whose absence places a responsibility upon you?”
Scene Four — The Impossible Proposal
A clock appears above the stage and begins counting down from sixty minutes.
The Sceptic asks:
- How could success be measured?
- What happens if violence continues somewhere?
- Could silence be misunderstood?
- Who controls the message?
- Who benefits financially?
- What happens the following day?
The Mediator explains that the Earthpeacehour would not prove that every conflict had been resolved. It would be an organised attempt to protect life together and to learn what coordinated peaceful action requires.
The Citizen responds:
“Perhaps the first honest promise is not that we will succeed. It is that we will prepare seriously enough to deserve the attempt.”
Musical Interlude — The Unfinished Melody
Byklang returns to the fragmented melody from the prologue.
One by one, the characters contribute a breath, a word or a single note. Their contributions remain different, yet gradually form a coherent musical pattern.
Fear is not silenced. It is acknowledged without being allowed to control the melody.
Scene Five — The Rehearsal
The characters attempt one minute of complete silence.
The first attempt fails. A telephone is checked, a question is whispered, a page continues to turn and the sound of an alarm interrupts the room.
They begin again.
The second minute is completed. Nothing miraculous visibly happens—yet everyone has experienced that coordinated stillness is possible.
The Voice of the Future speaks:
“The future is not asking whether you were perfect. It is asking whether you began.”
Scene Six — Germany Becomes Still
The stage transforms into a living map of Germany. Lights appear in cities, villages, homes, schools, hospitals, places of worship, community centres and prisons.
Recorded voices say:
- “It happened here.”
- “We stopped together.”
- “We did not agree on everything.”
- “We still protected one another.”
The Citizen carries the empty chair to the table and gives it a place among the living.
Epilogue — The Question Returns
The Voice of Planet Earth says:
“Peace is not the absence of difference. It is the decision that difference must not destroy life.”
All eight characters turn towards the audience:
“If peace does not require us to agree on everything, what is still preventing us from beginning?”
The lights remain still. There is no music and no immediate applause. The question is allowed to remain in the stadium before the stage slowly darkens.
6. Voices of Life
Eight Perspectives, Eight Human Realities
18:10–18:35
Voices of Life gives the stage to people whose experiences are too often reduced to headlines or statistics.
Eight prospective contributions of approximately two minutes each could include:
- A democratically selected representative of Berlin’s school students, speaking about the future young people hope to inherit
- A representative nominated by WEISSER RING, speaking about dignity and support after violence
- A refugee-led speaker selected with Refugee Voices Tours Berlin, speaking from lived experience without being defined solely by displacement
- A field worker nominated by Médecins Sans Frontières Germany, speaking about protecting life under extreme conditions
- A mediator nominated by forumZFD, describing how dialogue can continue when trust has collapsed
- A counsellor nominated by TelefonSeelsorge Deutschland, speaking about listening, loneliness and the value of every life
- A representative of the German Animal Welfare Federation, speaking for animals unable to represent themselves
- An inclusion advocate such as Raul Krauthausen, speaking about participation, accessibility and equal human dignity
The participating organisations should choose their representatives in consultation with the production team. Personal suffering must never be used merely to manufacture emotion. Participation must be voluntary, dignified, carefully prepared and appropriately compensated.
7. The Eight Invitations to Earthpeace
18:35–19:00
Eight people from different generations and areas of society enter the stage. Each offers one concise invitation:
- Protect life.
- Listen before judging.
- Refuse dehumanisation.
- Remember those who are absent.
- Care for animals and nature.
- Reduce one conflict in your own life.
- Protect the dignity of those with whom you disagree.
- Carry the day into tomorrow.
These are invitations, not compulsory pledges. The audience is not asked to repeat or sign anything.
8. Germany Becomes Still
19:00–19:55
A large screen becomes a living map connecting regional Earthpeaceassemblies across Germany.
Images and short live connections appear from town squares, homes, hospitals, schools, cultural centres and community gatherings. They demonstrate that the Earthpeaceday belongs not only to Berlin, but to people throughout the country.
A soundscape created by Byklang becomes progressively simpler until only one sustained note remains.
At 19:55, the note fades. Speaking ends. The final fifteen minutes allow everyone to arrive quietly in the shared hour.
9. The German Earthpeacehour
Sixty Minutes of Shared Silence
20:00–21:00
The shared silence is the protected heart of the German Earthpeaceday.
During this hour, there are:
- No speeches
- No advertisements
- No slogans
- No applause
- No musical performances
- No fundraising
- No political branding
- No compulsory prayer
- No compulsory physical contact
A single bell begins the hour at 20:00 and ends it at 21:00.
Emergency communication, medical care and safety services remain fully operational. The livestream shows calm, fixed images with natural ambient sound and no commentary.
The hour is not presented as proof that every conflict has disappeared. Its success lies in people consciously choosing peaceful conduct together—and in learning what would be required to extend that choice beyond one hour.
10. Earthpeaceconcert
Germany Sings for Earthpeace
21:00–23:00
The Earthpeaceconcert transforms the stillness of the preceding hour into music, hope and shared celebration.
Byklang is envisioned as the musical front act and connecting voice of the event. Byklang would welcome the audience in the morning, accompany the transition into silence and open the concert with a free musical improvisation.
Proposed Concert Programme
21:00–21:18
Byklang
“Free Play” — an eighteen-minute improvisation gently carrying the stadium out of silence and into music
21:18–21:19
Transition
One-minute changeover
21:19–21:25
Matthias Wille Janssen and Christian de Raco
“Earthpeace Anthem”
21:25–21:26
Transition
One-minute changeover
21:26–21:32
Udo Lindenberg
“Wozu sind Kriege da?”
21:32–21:33
Transition
One-minute changeover
21:33–21:39
Scorpions
“Wind of Change”
21:39–21:40
Transition
One-minute changeover
21:40–21:46
Peter Maffay
“Über sieben Brücken musst du gehn”
21:46–21:47
Transition
One-minute changeover
21:47–21:53
Sarah Connor
“Wie schön du bist”
21:53–21:54
Transition
One-minute changeover
21:54–22:00
Silbermond
“Krieger des Lichts”
22:00–22:01
Transition
One-minute changeover
22:01–22:07
Adel Tawil
“Zuhause”
22:07–22:08
Transition
One-minute changeover
22:08–22:14
Joy Delanane
“Himmel berühren”
22:14–22:15
Transition
One-minute changeover
22:15–22:21
Herbert Grönemeyer
“Stück vom Himmel”
22:21–22:22
Transition
One-minute changeover
22:22–22:28
Clueso
“Gewinner”
22:28–22:29
Transition
One-minute changeover
22:29–22:35
LEA
“Leiser”
22:35–22:36
Transition
One-minute changeover
22:36–22:42
Nicole
“Ein bißchen Frieden”
22:43–22:44
Transition
One-minute preparation for the collective finale
22:45–22:51
Byklang, participating artists and a children’s choir
Collective reprise of the “Earthpeace Anthem”
22:51-22:52
Pause
One shared minute of stillness before the closing words
22:52-23:00
Matthias Wille Janssen
Closing words and invitation to carry the German Earthpeaceday into everyday life
23:00
Final image and end of the event
One bell sounds as the message “One Planet. One Humanity. One Earthpeacehour.” appears on the stadium screens
The running order, titles and timings are illustrative. Every performance requires artist and rights-holder approval, contracts, GEMA licensing, arrangement permissions and separate television, streaming and recording rights.
Participation and Reserved Places
The current working model proposes 8,888 reserved places for invited representatives and contributors whose presence could connect the event with society across Germany and internationally.
Area of society
Proposed places
Politics and public institutions
1,600
Diplomacy and international organisations
900
Media and journalism
1,200
Peace, environmental and human-rights organisations
1,100
Youth and education
1,500
Science and research
300
Religious, philosophical and humanist communities
300
Culture and the arts
200
Sport
200
People directly affected by conflict and inclusion representatives
788
Volunteers and partner organisations
600
Wheelchair users
100
Essential companions and carers
100
Total proposed reserved places
8,888
The final allocations must avoid double-counting individuals who belong to several categories. Accessible seating and companion places must be determined in cooperation with the venue and accessibility specialists.
An invitation, ticket purchase or sponsorship agreement must never provide control over the event’s message, artistic programme or Earthpeacehour.
Preliminary Public Ticket Model
The majority of the available capacity should remain open to the public.
Ticket category
Proposed tickets
Gross price
Potential gross revenue
Front-field standing
5,032
€159
€800,088
General field standing
10,000
€89
€890,000
Lower tier premium
10,000
€229
€2,290,000
Lower tier standard
20,000
€159
€3,180,000
Upper tier central
18,000
€119
€2,142,000
Upper tier outer
8,968
€89
€798,152
Upper tier social allocation
8,000
€39
€312,000
Total
80,000
Average: €130.15
€10,412,240
The social allocation is intended to make participation possible for people with limited financial means. Additional supporter tickets, donations or sponsorship could help finance free or further reduced-price places.
Illustrative financial scenario
Item
Preliminary amount
Gross ticket revenue at full public sell-out
€10,412,240
Revenue excluding assumed 19% VAT
€8,749,782
Preliminary total event costs
€7,900,000
Indicative operating surplus
€849,782
Indicative ticket-only break-even
Approximately 72,231 tickets
Break-even occupancy
Approximately 90.3%
These figures are a preliminary scenario, not an approved budget or investment forecast. The calculation assumes that the ticket categories sell in the planned proportions and does not yet account for every possible ticketing fee, royalty, levy, refund, tax treatment or production contingency.
A ticket-only break-even point of approximately 90.3% carries significant financial risk. Grants, donations, responsible sponsorship, guarantees or cost reductions should therefore be explored before public ticket sales begin.
Capacity clarification
The current model combines 80,000 public tickets with 8,888 reserved places, creating the symbolic target of 88,888 admissions.
This is not a confirmed capacity for Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. Concert capacity depends on the stage, infield layout, sightlines, production areas, emergency routes, media positions and accessible seating configuration. The final number must be approved by the venue and the responsible authorities.
If the certified capacity is lower, the public and invited allocations must be reduced or redistributed before any tickets or invitations are issued.
Proposed Venue
The programme is being developed with Berlin’s Olympic Stadium as the envisioned location. Until a contract has been signed, it must always be described as a proposed venue.
A smaller Berlin arena or an outdoor civic location should be prepared as an alternative. The concept must remain scalable without losing the German Earthpeacehour at its centre.
Safety, Wellbeing and Accessibility
A stadium-scale gathering requires comprehensive cooperation with police, fire, medical services, transport providers, accessibility specialists and the venue’s operational team.
The safety concept must include:
- A certified evacuation and emergency plan
- Severe-weather and heat-management procedures
- Controlled admission and crowd-flow planning
- Safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults
- Medical, counselling and quiet areas
- Public-transport and departure planning
- Crisis communication procedures
- Emergency communication throughout the silent hour
The programme should be accessible through:
- German and English
- German Sign Language
- Live captioning
- Audio description
- Easy-to-understand language
- Screen-reader-compatible digital information
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilets and seating
- Trained assistance teams
- Eyes-open and movement-friendly alternatives during contemplative sessions
The silence must never prevent anyone from seeking medical help, communicating an emergency or leaving the event.
Media and Broadcasting
Regional Earthpeaceassemblies may be connected before and after the central hour through live images, interviews and documentary reports.
Media organisations would play an essential role in making the national experiment visible, examining it critically and enabling participation beyond the proposed Berlin venue.
During the Earthpeacehour itself, coverage remains deliberately restrained:
- No presenters
- No advertising
- No dramatic commentary
- No manufactured emotional scenes
- No political messaging
Only calm images, natural ambient sound and shared silence should remain.
Financing and Transparency
A complete budget must separately identify:
- Venue rental
- Stage, sound, lighting and video technology
- Artist and actor fees
- Theatre development and rehearsals
- Music, performance and broadcasting rights
- Security and medical services
- Insurance and legal advice
- Livestreaming and television production
- Accessibility services
- Travel and accommodation
- Staff and volunteer support
- Public communication
- Environmental measures
- Contingency reserves
Sponsors may be acknowledged before and after the event. There should be no commercial advertising during the German Earthpeacehour.
An independently reviewed budget and a transparent post-event financial report should be published.
Roadmap to 8 August 2027
- September–October 2026: Confirm the event charter, feasibility study, budget framework, production leadership and venue options
- November–December 2026: Send confidential invitations to prospective artists, actors, speakers and institutional partners
- January–February 2027: Secure financing, legal advice, insurance and provisional contracts
- March–April 2027: Confirm the programme, media partners, safety concept and regional Earthpeaceassemblies
- May–June 2027: Begin the nationwide awareness campaign, ticket sales and volunteer recruitment
- July 2027: Conduct artistic rehearsals, technical tests and simulations of the shared hour
- 6–7 August 2027: Complete construction, sound checks, safety inspections and the full dress rehearsal
- 8 August 2027: The German Earthpeaceday and Second Earthpeaceassembly
- From 9 August 2027: Publish attendance, safety, impact and financial reports and document the lessons for 2033
The Defining Invitation
The German Earthpeaceday does not promise that Germany will solve every conflict in one day.
It invites a country of different histories, beliefs, fears, hopes and opinions to attempt something concrete, measurable and deeply human:
Can millions of people consciously protect life together for one Earthpeaceday, unite in one Earthpeacehour—and show the world what coordinated peaceful action can make possible?
One country can begin an experiment.
One shared hour can make our collective responsibility visible.
And one successful beginning may help humanity prepare for something greater:
One planet. One humanity. One Earthpeacehour.
The Upcoming Earthpeaceassemblies
A Living Journey from 2028 to 2032
The Earthpeaceassemblies planned for 8 August 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031 and 2032 remain works in progress.
Their scale, location and programme have not yet been determined. They will depend substantially on the reach, credibility and lessons of the Second Earthpeaceassembly—the proposed German Earthpeaceday on 8 August 2027.
The German pilot project should help reveal:
- How willing people are to participate
- Which communities and institutions become involved
- How media and the public respond
- Which safety, accessibility and broadcasting structures are required
- What strengthens credibility—and what must be improved
- Whether the following assemblies should grow locally, nationally or internationally
For this reason, the later Earthpeaceassemblies should not be presented as finished events before their foundations exist. They are intended to develop gradually, learning from each previous year and expanding only as participation, partnerships and practical capacity allow.
The plans for each assembly will be published and updated as its date approaches. Every gathering should become another rehearsal for global cooperation and another carefully considered step towards 8 August 2033.
The path is not predetermined. It will be shaped by everyone who chooses to walk it with us.